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As the U.S.-led international coalition expands its attacks to include more Syrian areas, the Syrian regime has used the diversion of global media attention to perpetrate more crimes against Syrian civilians. On Tuesday the 25th of November 2014, the Syrian regime executed a horrific massacre against civilians in the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa. The city of Raqqa has been under ISIS control since the 12th of January 2014.

According to monitors of the Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies (DCHRS), a flyover of a Syrian surveillance plane preceded the attack. A few hours later, three MiG warplanes of the Syrian regime appeared. Then, at 12:10 pm on the 25th of November 2014 these Syrian warplanes carried out nine consecutive airstrikes on residential areas. 52 civilian deaths have so far been attributed to the attack. Dozens were wounded.

Immediately after the attack, DCHRS noted that bodies had been blasted all over the streets. A number of medical teams at the scene, including the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, transferred the wounded (about 87) to nearby facilities including the Raqqa National Hospital. The poor state of the medical facilities caused many of the wounded to die from their injuries.

DCHRS monitors noted that the airstrikes hit important landmarks in Raqqa, including the Raqqa National Museum and a popular market near it. The strikes also hit vital infrastructure, such as the post office near the bus station and the industrial area. Other strikes hit the Al Forosoyia area, the Al-Mustauda Al-Asfar area and a residential building. In addition, the MiG planes hit a mosque in the city centre. Notably, the distance between the mosque and the nearest ISIS-controlled position was 1,500 meters.

At the end of Tuesday the 25th of November 2014, DCHRS monitors recorded the names of 52 victims. All the victims were from Raqqa, except for one who was an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) from Hassaka. The total number of victims is likely to increase, given that a number of people are still considered missing. The National Hospital in Raqqa also holds a number of unidentified bodies. The victims were:
1- Mohammad Tarboush.
2- Ali Tarboush.
3- Ramez Abboush.
4- Ammar Aziz.
5- Hassan Al-Khalaf, 30-year-old.
6- Ibrahim Abdulkafi Al-Hendawi.
7- Child Khalil Abdullah As-Suliman.
8- Ibrahim Najm Al-Abiou.
9- Saher Al-Allawi.
10- Hamza As-Saleh.
11- Khaled Al-Hamoud.
12- Mahmoud Mohammad Abbas.
13- Mohammad Al-Faraj.
14- Ramez Abboush.
15- Fahd Ramez Abboush.
16- Saad Ramez Abboush.
17- Motasem Al-Hamoud.
18- Hosam Al-Eissa.
19- Khalil Al-Muslim.
20- Abdullah Al-Mohammad.
21- Mohammad Ash-Shaikh.
22- Ahmad Subhi Iwyra.
23- Huthaifa Khalaf Al-Ibrahim.
24- Rashid Ar-Rashid.
25- Ali Aqili.
26- Ibrahim Al-Mousa.
27- Abdullah Salem Al-Hajij.
28- Ismail As-Salama.
29- Mohammad Farwati.
30- Zuhdi As-Sultan.
31- Mahmoud Tarboush, 20-year-old.
32- Child Ali At-Tarboush, 17-year-old.
33- Osama Al-Jarda.
34- Ahmad Mustafa Mohammad.
35- Ahmad Khattab.
36- Ahmad Al-Brazi.
37- Mustafa Nweran.
38- Ibrahim Hendawi.
39- Bashar Hassan Al-Ali.
40- Al-Mohannad Ahmad Al-Badran.
41- Fasial Saleh Al-Hamoud.
42- Mustafa Ahmad Al-Hussein Al-Fakkash.
43- Hamoud Ilwash Al-Khattab.
44- Omar Al-Hamzawi.
45- Faisal Ali Ar-Radi,
46- Ahmad Sulimran At-Tayeb.
47- Mohannad Al-Badran.
48- Khalil Al-Jaber.
49- Hamada Al-Brazi.
50- Unidentified woman victim, Hamada Al-Brazi’s mother.
51- Unidentified child victim, Abdurrashid As-Swyelem’s son.
52- Zuhdi Iliwi Al-Hussein, from Al-Hassaka – Al-Houl,

The attacks on residential areas provide additional proof that the Syrian regime deliberately targets civilians. The strike on the mosque, in particular, demonstrates that the regime has other priorities than fighting ISIS. The mosque was located 1,500 meters away from the nearest ISIS position or office. The presence of the Syrian surveillance plane before the attack also indicates that the regime could have been aware that its strikes would lead to a high number of civilian deaths.

The aforementioned acts by the Syrian regime can be classified as war crimes under Articles 8-2-b-i, 8-2-b-ii, and 8-2-b-iv of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The excessive use of forces by the Syrian regime relative to the anticipated military advantage is a war crime under Article 8-2-b-v of the Rome Statute. Article 8-2-b-ix of the Rome Statute considers the following a war crime: “Intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes, historic monuments, hospitals and places where the sick and wounded are collected, provided they are not military objectives”. On this basis, the attack on the mosque should be considered a war crime under the Rome Statute. 

DCHRS condemns this horrible massacre that was perpetrated by the air force of the Syrian regime. The DCHRS deems those in positions of power in the regime, and especially their leader Bashar Al-Assad, responsible. DCHRS also holds the international community responsible for these massacres. The international community has failed to recognize the regime’s acts as war crimes. Moreover, the international community should be aware that the Syrian regime uses the international coalition strikes to act with impunity in ISIS-controlled areas and to continue their strikes against civilians.

ISIS also carries responsibility because it established military centers in the middle of residential areas. ISIS knowingly puts the lives of the civilians in danger with this decision.
DCHRS appeals to the United Nations and its Secretary General to take immediate action to protect Syrian civilians from the perpetual attacks. The DCHRS warns that the silence of the international community will lead to further atrocities. In the absence of external intervention, the Assad regime will continue to shed the blood of innocent civilians.

Damascus Center for Human Rights

26-11-2014

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Radwan Ziadeh
Executive Director
Tel:          +1 (571) 205-3590
Email:      radwan.ziadeh@gmail.com

Mr. Mojahed Ghadban
Communications Officer.
Tel:          +1 (479) 799-8115
Email:      info@dchrs.org

The Damasus Center for Human Rights Studies (DCHRS) is an independent human rights NGO that monitors the human rights situation in Syria. Established in 2005, it was initially located in the Syrian capital of Damascus. The mission of DCHRS is to promote respect for human rights in Syria.

DCHRS engages in numerous documentation projects. These projects include daily casualty reports, reports on particular massacres, and the reporting and documenting of other human rights violations. DCHRS has also works to lobby and advocate for Syrian human rights, and aims to draw the world’s attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Syria.

Since the beginning of the Syrian revolution, the center has expanded its activities, working to coordinate and communicate with activists. At this time, the center began documenting the daily violations committed by Syrian regime forces, many of which can be classified as crimes against humanity or war crimes. As the conflict developed, DCHRS expanded its monitoring activities to all armed groups.

Human rights violations recorded by DCHRS have included (but are not limited to): extrajudicial killings, massacres, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, rape, and torture. DCHRS has opened local offices in Syria in order to document evidence concerning human rights violations on the ground. These reports have been submitted by DCHRS to many international and regional human rights organizations, as well as with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic (established by the UN).

DCHRS recognizes and adheres to all pertinent international human rights agreements and declarations issued by the UN. DCHRS is also a member of the following international networks:

1. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
2. Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN)
3. NGO Coalition for the international Criminal Court
4. International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect (ICRtoP)
5. International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC)